Asian Citrus Psyllid

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ATTENTION! We need your help to prevent the spread of the Asian citrus psyllid and the introduction of Citrus greening disease. Please don’t move citrus trees, or their trimmings, without taking precautions to prevent the spread of the Asian citrus psyllid. Please call the Plant Services Division for more information. In Yuma call (928) 341-1680 for all other areas please call (602) 542-0992.

What is Asian Citrus Psyllid?

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), an aphid-like insect, is a serious pest of all citrus and closely-related plants because of the pests ability to transmit Citrus greening disease. If a plant becomes infected, an ACP can transmit Citrus greening disease or Huanglongbing (HLB) when it feeds on the plants’ leaves and stems. HLB is the most devastating disease of citrus in the world. Symptoms of HLB include yellow shoots, leaf mottle, small upright leaves and lopsided fruit with a bitter flavor. Infected trees decline in health, produce inedible fruit and eventually die. There is no known cure for the disease and infected trees must be removed and destroyed to prevent further spread of HLB. However, HLB is not harmful to animals or humans.

The ACP has been detected in all citrus growing areas of the state and is under a statewide quarantine for the pest. The disease (HLB) has not been detected and movement of citrus and citrus trees is not restricted within the state.

How to Prevent the Spread of Asian Citrus Psyllid

Here are a few preventative steps we ask that you be aware of:

DON’T:

• Ship or carry uncertified* citrus fruit, leaves or plants to other states.
• Purchase uncertified* citrus fruit, leaves or plants from other states.
• Bring citrus fruit, leaves or plants with you from other states or countries as you travel.
• Graft citrus budwood or clippings from sources that have not been tested for citrus diseases.

*Fruit, leaves and plants must undergo specific safeguarding measures and a certificate or permit issued by a regulatory agency to leave or enter the state.

DO:

• Purchase citrus fruit locally.
• Purchase citrus plants from a reputable local nursery.
• Share your citrus fruit from your tree with friends and neighbors locally.
• Regularly fertilize your citrus trees as recommended by your local nursery or master gardener to maintain a healthy tree.
• Only take commercially packed citrus fruit out of the quarantine area.
• Never take citrus plants, unclean fruit, or citrus plant parts out of the quarantine area.
• Never ship citrus fruit, plants or plant parts through the mail (statewide).
• Contact your local Master Gardener Program or Department of Agriculture if you believe your tree has the Asian citrus psyllid or Citrus greening disease.

For more information, see the U.S. Department of Agriculture Asian Citrus Psyllid and Save-Our-Citrus.

How to Reduce the Risk to Arizona Citrus

Please keep in mind the following for general knowledge and to help reduce the risk to Arizona citrus:

• Please do not bring citrus fruit, plants, or plant parts (leaves, stems, seeds, etc.) into Arizona from other countries or states without the proper certification and treatment.
• Please do not bring other ACP/HLB host plants into Arizona from other countries or states without the proper certification and treatment. For a list of regulated plants, see Asian Citrus Psyllid Host List information.
• Citrus fruit being moved from inside of the ACP quarantine area to citrus producing areas where ACP is not present must be cleaned using normal packinghouse procedures and have a valid compliance agreement issued by the USDA. Please call (602) 431-3202 for more information.
• Citrus plants and other host plants being moved from inside of the quarantine area for ACP may not be moved to other citrus producing states where ACP is not present. Citrus plants and other hosts plants being moved from inside of the quarantine area for ACP to non-citrus producing states must have a valid compliance agreement issued by the USDA. Please call (602) 431-3202 for more information.
• Nurseries inside of the Arizona ACP quarantine area that are under compliance agreement with the Department and follow the protocols under the Clean Citrus Stock Program (DAO11-01) are eligible to move citrus nursery stock to other areas of the state, outside of the ACP quarantine area. For more information please call (602) 542-0992.
• Citrus trees purchased to be planted within the quarantine area must have a tag issued by the USDA that states that the citrus trees may not be moved to outside of the quarantine area.

View the list of plants under regulation.